Alex Bahr Selected Works

Spring 2017

Alex Bahr Selected Works

Project Index Spring 2017

ACADEMIC 4-13

4 Stuyvestant Ovel Urban Housing and Masterplan Proposal

14-17

Situated Mask_Part 1 Architectural Exercise

18-25

Situated Mask_Part 2 Theater Complex and Masterplan Proposal

PROFESSIONAL 26-29

1900 N Street, NW. Washington D.C. Build-to-Suit Office Building

30-33

2000 L Street, NW. Washington D.C. Core and Shell Renovation / Vertical Expansion

This project is a continuation of study that looks at how architecture can be speculated and formed into a new reality and ultimately question, formally and representationally, what is ‘the real’? The project is titled new, old, object because it looks into a realm of objects, and architecture, that has the qualities of both, new and old, but can’t be categorized as either. These new old objects put into tension the existing architecture while giving the users a sense of spectacle, that the new design proposes to bring.

The project is a renovation, and reconception, of Stuyvestant Town, specifically the 4 Stuyvestant Oval, located in lower Manhattan, NYC. The existing site, that the project is apart of, is made up of monolithic cruciform buildings that are made up of self-similar one, two and three bedroom apartments. The project takes the liberty to speculate on a new future of Stuyvestant Town by proposing that this design to be completed and occupied in 2036, exactly 20 years after the design was completed. The proposed design questions the program and spacial organization of the housing by speculating on potential new users and new functions. The design from the initial massing, formal articulation, interior scheme and material specification all work together to put into tension the existing architecture while updating it into a new future and a new realism.

4 Stuyvestant Oval Fall 2016 Kutan Ayata Studio_PennDesign

6

Plan: Level 14

P

E

S

P

E

S

P

E

S

P

E

S

1

Alex Bahr

Plan: Typical Floor

2 3 4

P

E

S

Floor Plans Highlights formal change from oringal cricform building form, level 14, to the dramatic formal change as you E P S move down the building

One Bedroom Two Bedroom Studio (Duplex) Communal Areas

B.1

C.1

B.2

A.2

A.3

B.4

C.3

C.4

Alex Bahr

A.4

B.3

C.2

PennDesign

Fall 2016

A.1

4 Stuyvestant Oval

7

Massing Iterations Transformations of building form to build a character the has elements of the old object but estranges it with new qualites.

8

1

2

7

3

4

6

5

1 2 3 4

Alex Bahr

5 6 7

Precast Brick Panels Concrete Flat Panel Construction Non-Operable Tinted Glass Skylight Operable Tinted Glass Door Exposed Concrete Balcony Bronze Metal Panel Lightwell feeding into Bedroom

Cutaway Perspective & Typical Apartment Plan Through the rotation and orientation of exterior balconies, an interconnected space between floor to floor can occur bringing light and air to each apartment through a skylight or lower balcony

DN

Alex Bahr

PennDesign

Fall 2016

4 Stuyvestant Oval

9

Renderings of Major Approaches to Building

Alex Bahr

10

Site Plan_ Stuyvestant Town 2036 This was a drawing of the site plan proposal of the collective studio. I was tasked with coordinating, producing and implementing this drawing and the site model for studio to test the reality of there designs.

As apart of the studio, I was tasked with coordinating, producing and implementing a master site plan drawing and model of the studio’s proposal for Stuyvestant Town.

As a studio we began to speculate on how Stuyvestant Town would function in year 2036 and reflected the function and program of our designs to fulfill those needs. The success of the masterplan should not be measured in the complete re-design of the original site but in how successful the design intervenes locally an begin to blur what is new and what is old until both are completely indistinguishable.

To the right is the physical model of my proposal placed on site model. The design looks formally infill the courtyards in away the blurs the original building’s strong cruciform shape and creates unique spaces that imply new and different functions.

Site Masterplan Proposal

Alex Bahr

PennDesign

Fall 2016

4 Stuyvestant Oval

11

Alex Bahr

12

Rendering of Estranging the Familiar The intent of the design is to estrange the familiar and question the reality that people perceive. The success of the design is ability to hide in plane sight and make people question what they perceive the function of the design.

Alex Bahr

PennDesign

Fall 2016

4 Stuyvestant Oval

13

In latin, persona is the same word for both

graphically embody the built persona in the

mask and character. This project set out

painting. From the 2D graphics, volumetric

to explore persona and how to build it in

transformations were made and tested for

physical form. In doing so, the project studies

their formal expression. The result is an

the

architectural form, of a mask, that can be

relationship

between

architectural

orthographic drawing and 3 dimensional form. The result is to build the perception of architectural form for the expression a specific message and not towards , the postmodern approach, of ambiguity.

The project started with a renaissance painting, specifically Hans Holbein’s Lais of Corinth, for the purpose of extracting a persona and building a new object mask for a specific persona. By taking clues from the painting, new silhouettes were made to

Situated Mask_Part I Spring 2016 Jonthan Scesla Studio_PennDesign

perceived for its specific expression.

Lais of Corinth Hans Holbien, 1536

A.1 / Scaled Opening

A.2 / Scaled Opening

This study symbolizes the revealing within and exposing underneath.

Experimenting between solid and void, these object explore what happens when an object is craved from itself.

This study symbolizes the revealing within and exposing underneath.

Experimenting between solid and void, these object explore what happens when an object is craved from itself.

B.1 / Creased Opening

B.2 / Creased Opening

Experimenting with the natural creases occurring in clothing, these objects study the relationship of creasing, crimping and layering through multiple layers of volumes.

Experimenting with the natural creases occurring in clothing, these objects study the relationship of creasing, crimping and layering through multiple layers of volumes.

Alex Bahr

16

Geometric Transformations Through different hatch, shade and contour, architectural space is delinated and enhanced.

This study symbolizes the revealing within and exposing underneath.

Experimenting between solid and void, these object explore what happens when an object is craved from itself.

B.3 / Creased Opening

B.4 / Creased Opening

Experimenting with the natural creases occurring in clothing, these objects study the relationship of creasing, crimping and layering through multiple layers of volumes.

Experimenting with the natural creases occurring in clothing, these objects study the relationship of creasing, crimping and layering through multiple layers of volumes.

17 Situlated Mask_Part I

A.4 / Scaled Opening

This study symbolizes the revealing within and exposing underneath.

Experimenting between solid and void, these object explore what happens when an object is craved from itself.

Alex Bahr

PennDesign

Fall 2016

A.3 / Scaled Opening

This project sets out to explore how graphic design can be used in architecture as a method for transmitting an specific message. In doing this, the project looks to validate the writings of Hans Hollein in Everything is Architecture in which he explains that architecture, as an extension of the human sphere, is a medium of communication that can project an specific cultural and metaphysical expression.

The design is a performing arts center that takes inspiration from existing spires in Philadelphia, specifically the graphic uniqueness of the pinnacle representing an certain neighborhood or group. Through a catalog of existing spire iconography, new combinations and mixed perceptions inform the new architectural geometry and work towards a new architecture informed by historical precedent, and not toward ambiguity. Through this process of objectifying an architectural graphic, the project came to understand that an architectural object

Situated Mask_Part II Spring 2016 Jonthan Scesla Studio_PennDesign

alone does not hold full autonomy to the public perception of architecture. Only when an object is placed in an environment ready to receive it can the public correctly perceive the intended content.

Through advanced experimentation of graphic styles, architectural drawing techniques and rendering processes, the project began to telegraph architectural information through the use of a new graphic language. Shades of Magenta and Cyan and along with new hatches and patterns start to infer an idea of possible materiality and panelazation. The project was deeply sensitive to the transmittance of a graphic silhouette and high graphic as a method of relaying a secondary graphic information to the visitor. As a result, methods of chopping and slicing the architectural form was done to create aperture and embed additional 2D graphic information into the architecture.

Exterior Space of Connection

Alex Bahr

20

Proposed Site Plan The site is bifurcated by Delaware Avenue and separates the formal interior theaters from the exterior spaces of performance. The representation of the design is through different hatches, shades and contours that delineates and articulates the architecture.

Alex Bahr

PennDesign

Fall 2016

Situlated Mask_Part II

21

Site Analysis From the program requirement, precedents of the sizes and forms of theatres where collected and placed on the size to begin to imply movement, entrance and connection to ground.

From this placement and study of the view-shed of these object was taken, shown in the magenta hatch.

Alex Bahr

22

Cutaway Isometric

PennDesign

Fall 2016

Situlated Mask_Part II

23

BACKSTAGE

BACKSTAGE

ENTRY

WHAT IF?

THEATER

ENTRY

ENTRY

GALLERY

ENTRY

BACKSTAGE

ENTRY

THE

THEATER

AND?

AND?

Programmatic Manipulation Diagram Through a breakdown of the programmatic elements of the typical theatre, the design was able to reorganize and appropriate architectural elements and give them new hybrid functions.

Alex Bahr

ENTRY

ENTRY

THEATER

GALLERY

ENTRY

THEATER

ENTRY

ENTRY

THEATER

WHAT IF?

BACKSTAGE

BACKSTAGE

ENTRY

BACKSTAGE

ENTRY

ENTRY

THEATER

GALLERY

ENTRY

From the cutaway isometric, the design of TYPICALspine (LINCOLN CENTER) how the vertical of the three spires is integrated with the vertical movement of the public. While the three spires have local separation from each other, globally the spires are interconnected and frameTHEATER an THEATER internal space of both physical and visual connection. The internal space was conceived THEATER of as a void and its form is shaped from the three spires that surround it. Thus globally the design is not organized a physical object WHAT IF? but instead an internal void.

BACKSTAGE

ENTRY

THEATER

ENTRY

THEATER

TYPICAL (LINCOLN CENTER)

BACKSTAGE

BACKSTAGE

One of the major drivers of the design was the integration of public movement and theatre back of house. Both spaces are typically underutilized based on the perception that both need to be physically separated and fully enclosed. The design appropriates the back of house space and envisions it as a spine for which the entry would be wrapped around. By doing this both the entry and back of house is transformed into a space in which the public and theatre production are integrated but still physically separated.

THEATER

BACKSTAGE

THEATER

Alex Bahr

24

Major Floor Plans and Longitudinal Section The design is a collection of vertical spires that are all organized around a central space of visual and physical connection. Vertical movement of these spires are wrapped around an internal lift acting as the theater’s storage and back of house. The success of the design is the integration between the public movement and theatre function.

Alex Bahr

PennDesign

Fall 2016

Situlated Mask_Part II

25

1900 N Street NW is a new Class A build-to-suit office building in the heart of the golden triangle district of Washington D.C. The building is 300,000 SF and combines 7 existing lots The building has three major facades at the north, east and south. A south facade projection and additional area was added to each floor by decreasing the F.A.R. on the third floor with midstory balconies and redistributing that area throughout the building. These balconies also served as visual break and made the lower two story building arcade a plinth for the new light and airy glass curtain wall to rest on.

At the upper floor facade transitions, there is a break in the curtain wall and a revel is made at critical areas of the building and the building corners. This unifies the design and softens the building visually. Overall the building facade is a clean, modern use of an old building which adds interest to pedestrians and profitable to investors.

My duties on this project was to take the design from the early conceptual design phase all the way through construction documents.

1900 N Street_Washington DC Fall 2016 Fox Architects - KPF Architects

LOBBY ENTRANCE ON 19TH STREET

1900 n street, NW

28

Alex Bahr

Site Plan

North Elevation

Site Plan and Elevation The building is organised around a massive space frame that supports the building from above. The space frame wound be partically encased in glass and would allows the three story lobby space to be column free.

Alex Bahr

Fox Architects

Fall 2015

1900 N Street

29

Rendering of Amenity Space These renderings highlight the space frame and the amentiy space in which encloses it. The space is to be fully encased in glass and act as skylobby to the building tenants.

DD SUBMISSION 10/17/14

D

C

2000 L Street project is a combination and expansion of two major existing buildings in Washington D.C., 2000 L Street NW and 2000 K Street NW. The buildings are currently separated by a rear alley and there is a 20 ft grade change from the each building’s ground floor slabs.

The scope of the work was to connect these buildings and make them a cohesive urban campus. 2000 L Street was to be fully renovated and receive three new additional floors, a new efficient pin supported glass facade, new lobby and atrium space, new elevators and new retail spaces. The approach of connecting these B two buildings is by in-filling the centralized rear alley and making it a new atrium space that unites the two buildings. The new atrium space includes a new atrium elevator lobby which serves as a bridge between the two buildings. The new main lobby is located under this new atrium space and is the hub of all vertical transportation.

My scope of work on this project is working from the early design development phase and take the building through to construction documents. The result is a highly complex new building reconfiguration that pushes the boundary of current construction methods and architectural form.

A

CORNER OF 20TH AND L STREET

2000 L Street_Washington DC Fall 2016 Fox Architects - Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

32

Alex Bahr

East Elevation

North Elevation

Major Elevations The exterior facades of the design is to be made up of 5 separate curtainwall systems that slide around eachother as it moves around the building. The ground floor is to be intrgrated with a 14 story atrium space and give the public the perception that the building mass is floating

Fox Architects

Fall 2015

2000 L Street

33

4

3

2

1

D

D

EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT:

RIOR VIEW FROM MEZZANINE ARCHITECTS

1121 14th Street, NW 3rd Floor Washington, DC 20005 T 202.659.0929 F 202.659.0928 www.fox-architects.com

DD SUBMISSION 10/17/14

DESIGN ARCHITECT: 322 Eighth Avenue, 11th Floor New York, New York 10001 T 212 417 9496 F 212 417 9497

C

C

4

3

www.pcparch.com

CONSULTANT: 1

2

PROJECT:

2000 L ST NW Washington, DC 20036

B

#

DATE

DESCRIPTION

Alex Bahr

B

STAMP:

Rendering of Interior Atrium and Lobby Like the exterior, the lobby walls and ceilings are conceived as planes of wood and marble sliding past one another. The lobby space is the connection of two separate buildings and is enchanced by a vertical atrium articulated with vertical wood fins.

A

INTERIOR VIEW FROM LOBBY

A

NORTH

DRAWN BY: Author PROJECT NO:

SCALE:

DRAWING TITLE:

RENDERING - INTERIOR

ALEX BAHR EMAIL abahr@upenn.edu

PHONE 708.941.0045

WEBSITE https://alexander-bahr.squarespace.com ADDRESS 2123 Walnut Street. Philadelphia, PA. 19103